Did you know that Daphne and Laurel are actually the same name? The former is Greek (δάφνη) and the latter is Latin (laurus), but both are names for the same tree: the laurel tree, which was sacred to Apollo. According to Greek mythology, the laurel tree was originally a nymph named Daphne who was turned into a tree to protect her from Apollo's attempts to assault her. Laurel crowns were a sign of victory in antiquity, and in modern Italy, college graduates still wear laurel crowns at their graduation ceremonies.